GAZA (Astra)
Mooching around the wharf at Sandspit a few weeks ago, I spied Gaza tied up alongside the Kawau Island ferry berth.
Any Sandpit woodys able to enlighten us on her?, she appeared to be a well looked after classic. Next week I’ll do a story on the woodys berthed at the new (ish) Sandpit Marina.
Ken Ricketts believe’s Gaza was previously named Astra & most likely a McGeady design.
CAROLYN
Paul Newell sent me the above photo of a small 20ft launch, named Carolyn, he owned for about 20 years. Paul purchased her in the late 70s from Don Garner of Onehunga who had purchased the launch Little Tasman and was in the early stages of restoring her when he became ill and passed away.
Carolyn was powered by a Ford Consul petrol engine which Paul removed and fitted a BMC Captain diesel. There was a log book on board which said she was built by Lanes of Panmure for a Mr Wells, a City Councillor of Panmure.
Paul sold Carolyn in the late 1990’s when he purchased the McGeady built launch Arohanui. Paul saw Carolyn a few years later in very run down condition.
Other than sharing the photo with us, Paul’s primary reason for contacting WW is to enquire if she is still around today?
Any woodys able to help out with intel?
Kawau Island Boats & Baches
Recently I had had enough of weekends in Auckland so with the wife out of town, I took the opportunity to escape & experience the 2nd to last stage that some of us go thru e.g. yacht > launch> motorhome > death.
An old neighbour & friend Chris Miller, owns a large motorhome, so we headed north to Sandspit – & booked into the camping ground for the weekend.
On Saturday we took the ferry to Kawau Island for what is known as the ‘Royal Mail Run’ – the boat mooches around the island dropping off / picking up passengers & freight for all the private jetties. While not a woody, the ferry trip is a must do, you get to visit most of the bays & can even enjoy a wine or two.
The photos above are a random gallery of the woodys I spotted on the trip & some of the waterfront holiday homes.
Tainui in the Sounds
Nathan Herbert sent in the above photo of this Dick Lange design/built woody that he spotted on his recent trip to the Marlborough Sounds.
She is quite big for a Lange, so hopefully we can ID her & dig out some info on her?
08-03-21 Input from Nikki Clark – The mystery is TAINUI owned by my dad (Peter Wiblin) and has been part of our family for 42 years. She lives at Momorangi Bay Marlborough Sounds. We understand she may be a Dick Lange built 1968 for Marine Land Napier as a dolphin catcher. Dad had her lengthened in 1986. Dad was told she was one of three built the same. Any more information would be fantastic
MISTRAL
Mistral’s trademe listing does not tell us much other than she was built in 1947, measures approx. 23’, is powered by a LD 28 diesel engine (is that a Lombardini?).
She was refitted 5 years ago at an approx. cost of $30k. Home is Dunedin & there is a trailer, so would make a cool lake boat.
Any southern woodys able to tell us some more about Mistral?
MATAHUI
Following on from yesterdays gallery of work boats from Port Chalmers, today we have a photo taken by Dean Wright of a very salty looking Matahui, berthed at Port Chalmers.
A lap of Stewart Island would not be a problem for this old girl, keen to know more about her.
See & read more about her here
Work Boat Wednesday
Woody owner (Arethusa) & commercial photographer, Dean Wright, has just returned from two weeks cruising around the bottom of the South Island on board a 1970, 47’ Saunders motorboat. They made it down to Stewart Island (Port Pegasus) & then came up the East Coast of the South Island to Mana, Wellington.
Todays story showcases some of the work boats Dean spotted in Port Chalmers,
I love the southerners use of colour on their boats, maybe its for dual purposes – looks & safety e.g. to be seen.
Any southern woodys able to ID those without names?
GEISHA
The above photo of Geisha, is tagged ‘Bay of Islands’ & is ex Lew Redwood’s fb page.
The only reference I have to a Geisha is a WW comment by Harold Kidd back in June 2013, referring to Charlie Palmer’s 1915, 36’ launch Adelaide III, that was sold & renamed Geisha – not sure if it is the same boat – HDK?
Harold Kidd Input – There were several GEISHAs, possibly two in the Bay of Islands. This one is a game fishing launch run by A.S. Frost of Russell in the period 1926-1930. She is very likely the GEISHA brought North from Auckland by J. Hodgson as early as 1907. I don’t think she’s the Collings & Bell ADELAIDE III which I’m sure had a tuck stern. Will check tonight as I have her lines.
WAITANGURU
Waitanguru was built by Allan Williams in 1953 & measures approx. 33’ & has a 9’10” beam.
She is kauri carvel planked, & powered by 39 hp Yanmar diesel. You’ll see from the trademe photos (thanks to Ian McDonald) that she is very well fitted out, & has been in survey.
Do we know anymore about her?
Input from Harold Kidd – WAITANGURU was built by Alan Williams for Petersen of Te Awamutu. She is 31′ x 11′ and had a 4cylinder Ford originally. She went first to Taupo then to Tauranga in 1966. Gerry Dawson of Caster Bay owned her in the 1970s and kept her at Milford. By 2001 she was owned back in Tauranga by Les and Pam Dawson and used for charter game fishing. A very able boat.
13-05-2018 Update from Ron Dawson
Waitanguru was built in 1949 I beleive on spec and bought by Frank Peterson of Piopio in the King Country. He finished the boat and kept in Milford. My father bought the boat in 1967. In 1968 dad raised the dodger and kept Waitanguru in Milford until he sold the boat in 1988. The boat originally had a Coventry diesel motor which was replaced with a 60hp Ford diesel in the early to mid 60s. Dad replaced that motor to a 72hp Ford diesel late 60s. Waitanguru went to Gulf Harbour for a couple of years and then to Taupo about 1990. I’m not to sure when the boat was moved to Tauranga. I do know Waitanguru had an outboard motor on the stern trolling for trout on Lake Taupo. The boat length was 28 feet plus boarding platform.
Waitanguru’s name comes from a place on the road from Piopio out to the coast at Marokopa in the King Country.
04-05-2022 UPDATE – additional photos ex May 2022 trademe listing
Wakatu – A Peek Down Below
Wakatu was launched in Dec 1976, her hull was built by Des Scott & then finished off by her first owners – Ron & Mary McGehan.
Now if she looks like a Roy Parris design, that would because her designer, Graeme Bronlund had worked for Roy 😉
You can read / see more at this link to her previous ww story https://waitematawoodys.com/2017/08/23/wakatu/
Thanks to Ian McDonald for the trademe listing heads up.
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